Lodi's Grape Bowl hit with accessibility lawsuit

LODI, CA - Even though millions of dollars have been spent by the city of Lodi on improvements to the Grape Bowl stadium, a Stockton man claims it's not enough because one side of the seating area wasn't improved.

In the court filing, James Smith and a San Diego attorney wrote, "there is a lack of accessible paths of travel to facilities of accessible seating. The lack of accessible paths of travel and of seating violate the claimants civil rights."

Lodi spokesperson Jeff Hood said the city rejects that claim.

"In the last three or four years, the city has spent $5 million on a series of improvements. The entrance, the ticket booth, the restrooms, concession stand are all compatible for a disabled individual or people in wheelchairs," Hood said.

But Smith attended a football game last year at the Grape Bowl and to sit on the Stagg High School side required far more trouble, according to Smith.

"You have to walk the full length of the field to come down to gravel to access the bottom row of seats. The people in front of me, with a lady in a wheelchair, had to walk her up the hill, and at the top, had to leave her chair and carry her down to her seat," Smith said.